Well of course the new AMD native quadcore cpu that is not yet released will be faster than a current Intel core that is released:damn:. Lets not compare apples to oranges here shall we? My point being that, of the quad core cpus available today, neither AMD nor Intel have a native quad core. Both intend to release one later this year, who will be first I havent found firm release dates for either yet...and there is the chance one or the other, or both, may try to release before schedule. Both of these new cpus will be native quad core. Nobody knows yet which will be faster or better or have more bang for buck.

Today, if you want to build the fastest quadcore system possible, you would use an Intel quad over the AMD quad. Come Q3 and the release of the new series of quads....well we will all have to wait till then to see if Intel will stay on top, or if AMD will again dethrone Intel.

Ok, how about this for a new system:
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo E6400 (2.13GHz 1066MHz FSB 2MB cache, non-HT)


Memory: 2048MB PC5300 dual-channel DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (2-1024MB modules)


Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI - Dual Link w/HDCP & TV-Out

OR

Dual Card ATI Radeon® X1950 CrossFire™ solution w/512MB GDDR4 memory DVI w/HDCP, VGA (via adapter) & TV-Out

Would that be ample for a few years?

Yes! But change over to an Nvidia based chipset so that if you decide to run SLI, you can. If you plan to keep the Crossfire chipset, buy ATI - like an x1900 series of some sort. Then you can run a Crossfire setup. I don't think Nvidia does SLI on an AMD Crossfire based board.

-S

That looks like a fine system, and I'm sure you would get some good mileage out of it. What flavor of the X1950 are you considering? I'd find it difficult to recommend the 7950 GT over an X1950 XT with the current prices of the latter, and it's a better performer. Although there are some great deals to be had on the 7950 GT as well (rebates).

The E6400 is a great CPU, but I'd suggest you consider spending just a little more for the E6600 and get the extra 2MB cache (you'll notice this).

Agree with upgrading from e6400 to e6600, also consider avoiding DDR2-667. Instead go with DDR2-533 because it runs synchronously with the CPU FSB and its cheap. Or go with DDR2-800 because the higher bandwidth of the RAM offsets the asynchronous latencies with the CPU, esp if you get ram with tight timings (most new boards directly support up to 800 now also).

Here's an article I found that benchmarks the various speeds of RAM with a Core 2 Duo system.
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=472
If nothing else read the last page:
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=get...65&articID=472

i say GO crossfire its a more effiecent technology then SLI where in SLI 1 video card is reduced performance(slave card) go corssfire because ATI x1950 xtx is the best only 2nd to the 8800 gtx

edit* definately ample for at least 1.5-2 years

edit*u can wait 2-3 months and get a native amd quad core? and intel is not planning on releasing native quad core till fall 07 , while amd is between spring-summer 07

That's good advice Zantham ... I like balance between everything, especially the chipset ...

One quick question ... Can I put (2) 1gb sticks of DDR2 800 in a MB with slots for DDR2 400? Will it revert to the 400 status or reject them?

depends on mobo, if mobo supports max ddr2 400 (wait ddr2 400 doenst exits) r u asking ddr400?? cuz it wont fit.

No, I'm talking DDR2 400 ... it's a special combo board by MSI has slots for DDR1 and DDR2 both are 400 ...

please post MB model and name and brand, and i can give answer

edit* right now i think it will be limited cuz mobo is designed for ddr1 and ddr2 so im pretty sure it wont run like computer wont even start up if u put in wrong memory, but to give a exact answer need MB model (ex, asus A8n-X etc....) and i can tell u exatcly which ram can be put

MSI 915P and then I think it says combo on it too

DDR2-400 does exist.

Geetrue let me see if I understand your question:
You want to run DDR2-800 RAM in a board you were running DDR2-400 in?
In this case, the DDR2-800 will run at the highest speed that your board allows, which could be 400, 533, 667 or 800. The RAM is backward compatible as long as it is all DDR2. Dont try to run both DDR and DDR2 at the same time.
My question is: why would you want to spend all that money on getting DDR2-800 if in fact your board will only run it at 400 or possibly 533? Running DDR2-800 RAM on a board that only supports 400 will be no different than running DDR2-400 RAM. DDR2-533 and 667 is generally a lot cheaper than 800. Hope this helps.

edit: and some high performance DDR2 RAM requires higher voltages to run and wont boot at stock voltages.

Easy question ... it's a combo board, only four places for ram, both are color coded one is green one is orange ... Running (2) sticks of 512 DDR1 400 now and would take them out and put in (2) DDR2 800 in the correct slots for DDR2 and then later upgrade MB and take the DDR2 with me ... :cool:

yea u can run it i guess, but it will be ddr2 400 speeds.

I concur...get a 4MB cache part.

and @ Flintlock

Check your PMs.